Graphinex Receives US$860 Million Letter of Interest from U.S. EXIM Bank supported by Export Finance Australia

Harry Minnis
21 October 2025

Key Highlights:

• Graphinex secures a US $860 million Letter of Interest from the U.S. EXIM Bank supported by Export Finance Australia – the largest single commitment under the new framework.
• The funding forms part of EXIM’s US $2.2 billion package within the US $8.5 billion U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Framework signed by President Trump and Prime Minister Albanese.
• The framework marks a major expansion of U.S.-Australia critical minerals cooperation, strengthening supply chains and reducing reliance on China.

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In a landmark day, Graphinex has emerged as one of the biggest winners in the newly signed U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Framework, receiving a US$860 million Letter of Interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States supported by Export Finance Australia.

Art Malone, Managing Director of Graphinex said the financing support reflects the growing importance of graphite to U.S. energy security and industrial resilience.

“This is a pivotal moment for Graphinex and a strong signal from Washington DC that graphite matters. The U.S. has made it clear that secure supply chains for critical minerals are essential to advanced manufacturing and defence capability. EXIM Bank’s support positions Graphinex at the centre of this strategy.”

The funding forms part of EXIM’s US$2.2 billion package to advance U.S.-aligned critical minerals projects across Australia, a key component within the broader US$8.5 billion Critical Minerals Framework signed this week between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Malone further added that “This financing milestone provides the momentum needed to accelerate development, lock in downstream partnerships, and create a secure and scalable pathway for high-quality and reliable graphite supply into the U.S. market.”

Graphinex is an Australian critical minerals company developing the Esmeralda
Graphite Project, including the Esmeralda mine and concentrator in Queensland, Australia and
a downstream refinery in the United States. Together, these assets will supply ultra high
performance active anode material to global EV and battery manufacturers.

Backed by Idemitsu Australia and supported by both state and federal funding initiatives, Graphinex is positioning itself to become a key supplier of natural graphite anode material to U.S., European, and Asian markets.

The joint U.S.-Australia framework represents one of the most substantial commitments to critical minerals cooperation to date. With graphite now recognised as a material of strategic importance alongside lithium, rare earths, and titanium, the EXIM-backed support for Graphinex marks a key moment for Australia’s emerging graphite industry.